TERRY (1)m & fEnglishFrom an English surname which was derived from the medieval name
Thierry, a Norman French form of
THEODORIC.
TERRY (2)m & fEnglishDiminutive of
TERENCE or
THERESA. A famous bearer was Terry Fox (1958-1981), a young man with an artificial leg who attempted to run across Canada to raise money for cancer research. He died of the disease before crossing the country.
TESSfEnglish, DutchDiminutive of
THERESA. This is the name of the main character in Thomas Hardy's novel 'Tess of the D'Ubervilles' (1891).
TEXmEnglishFrom a nickname which denoted a person who came from the state of Texas. A famous bearer was the American animator Tex Avery (1908-1980), real name Frederick, who was born in Texas.
THADDEUSmEnglish, Biblical, Biblical LatinFrom
Θαδδαιος (Thaddaios), the Greek form of the Aramaic name
Thaddai. It is possibly derived from a word meaning "heart", but it may in fact be an Aramaic form of a Greek name such as
Θεοδωρος (see
THEODORE). In the Gospel of Matthew, Thaddaeus is listed as one of the twelve apostles, though elsewhere in the New Testament his name is omitted and
Jude's appears instead. It is likely that the two names refer to the same person.
THANEmEnglish (Rare)From the Scottish and English noble title, which was originally from Old English
thegn.
THANKFULfEnglish (Archaic)From the English word
thankful. This was one of the many virtue names used by the Puritans in the 17th century.
THELMAfEnglishMeaning unknown. It was a rare name when British author Marie Corelli used it for the Norwegian heroine of her novel 'Thelma' (1887). The name became popular around the end of the 19th century after the novel was published. It is sometimes claimed to derive from Greek
θελημα (thelema) meaning "will", though this seems unlikely.
THEOBALDmEnglish (Rare), Ancient GermanicDerived from the Germanic elements
theud "people" and
bald "bold". The Normans brought the name to England, where it joined an existing Old English cognate. The medieval forms
Tibald and
Tebald were commonly Latinized as
Theobaldus. It was rare by the 20th century.
THEODORAfEnglish, Greek, Ancient GreekFeminine form of
THEODORE. This name was common in the Byzantine Empire, being borne by several empresses including the influential wife of Justinian in the 6th century.
THEODOREmEnglishFrom the Greek name
Θεοδωρος (Theodoros), which meant "gift of god" from Greek
θεος (theos) "god" and
δωρον (doron) "gift". The name
Dorothea is derived from the same roots in reverse order. This was the name of several saints, including Theodore of Amasea, a 4th-century Greek soldier; Theodore of Tarsus, a 7th-century archbishop of Canterbury; and Theodore the Studite, a 9th-century Byzantine monk. It was also borne by two popes.
... [more] THERESAfEnglish, German, Swedish, Norwegian, DanishFrom the Spanish and Portuguese name
Teresa. It was first recorded as
Therasia, being borne by the Spanish wife of Saint Paulinus of Nola in the 4th century. The meaning is uncertain, but it could be derived from Greek
θερος (theros) "summer", from Greek
θεριζω (therizo) "to harvest", or from the name of the Greek island of Therasia (the western island of Santorini).
... [more] THOMASmEnglish, French, German, Dutch, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Greek, Biblical, Biblical Latin, Biblical GreekGreek form of the Aramaic name
תָּאוֹמָא (Ta'oma') which meant "twin". In the New Testament this is the name of an apostle. When he heard that
Jesus had risen from the dead he initially doubted the story, until Jesus appeared before him and he examined his wounds himself. According to tradition he was martyred in India. Due to his renown, the name came into general use in the Christian world.
... [more] THORLEYmEnglish (Rare)From a surname which was derived from a place name meaning "thorn clearing" in Old English.
THORNTONmEnglishFrom a surname which was derived from a place name meaning "thorn town" in Old English.
TIAfEnglishShort form of names ending with
tia. It has been suggested that its use since the 1950s is the result of the brand name for the coffee liqueur Tia Maria. In the brand name,
Tia is not a given name; rather, it means "aunt" in Spanish or Portuguese.
TIFFANYfEnglishMedieval form of
THEOPHANIA. This name was traditionally given to girls born on the Epiphany (January 6), the festival commemorating the visit of the Magi to the infant
Jesus. The name died out after the Middle Ages, but it was revived by the movie 'Breakfast at Tiffany's' (1961), the title of which refers to the Tiffany's jewelry store in New York.
TIGERmEnglish (Rare)From the name of the large striped cat, derived (via Old French and Latin) from Greek
τιγρις (tigris), ultimately of Iranian origin. A famous bearer is American golfer Tiger Woods (1975-).
TIMOTHYmEnglish, BiblicalEnglish form of the Greek name
Τιμοθεος (Timotheos) meaning "honouring God", derived from
τιμαω (timao) "to honour" and
θεος (theos) "god". Saint Timothy was a companion of
Paul on his missionary journeys and was the recipient of two of Paul's epistles that appear in the New Testament. He was of both Jewish and Greek ancestry. According to tradition, he was martyred at Ephesus after protesting the worship of
Artemis. As an English name,
Timothy was not used until after the Protestant Reformation.
TITTYfEnglishDiminutive of
LETITIA. This is now a slang word for the female breast, and the name has subsequently dropped out of common use.
TITUSmAncient Roman, English, Biblical, Biblical LatinRoman praenomen, or given name, which is of unknown meaning, possibly related to Latin
titulus "title of honour". It is more likely of Oscan origin, since it was borne by the legendary Sabine king Titus Tatius.
... [more] TOBIASmBiblical, German, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, English, Biblical Latin, Biblical GreekGreek form of
TOBIAH. This is the name of the hero of the apocryphal Book of Tobit, which appears in many English versions of the Old Testament. It relates how
Tobit's son Tobias, with the help of the angel
Raphael, is able to drive away a demon who has plagued Sarah, who subsequently becomes his wife. This story was popular in the Middle Ages, and the name came into occasional use in parts of Europe at that time. In England it became common after the Protestant Reformation.
TOBYm & fEnglishMedieval form of
TOBIAS. It was sometimes used as a feminine name in the 1930s and 40s due to the influence of American actress Toby Wing (1915-2001).
TODDmEnglishFrom a surname meaning "fox", derived from Middle English
todde.
TOM (1)mEnglish, Dutch, German, Norwegian, Danish, SwedishShort form of
THOMAS. Tom Sawyer was the main character in several of Mark Twain's novels, first appearing in 'The Adventures of Tom Sawyer' (1876). Other famous bearers include American actors Tom Hanks (1956-) and Tom Cruise (1962-).
TOPAZfEnglish (Rare)From the English word for the yellow precious stone, the birthstone of November, ultimately derived from Greek
τοπαζος (topazos).
TOPSYfEnglish (Rare)From a nickname which is of unknown meaning, perhaps deriving from the English word
top.
TRACYf & mEnglishFrom an English surname which was taken from a Norman French place name meaning "domain belonging to
THRACIUS". Charles Dickens used it for a male character in his novel 'The Pickwick Papers' (1837). It was later popularized as a feminine name by the main character Tracy Lord in the movie 'The Philadelphia Story' (1940). This name is also sometimes used as a diminutive of
THERESA.
TRAFFORDmEnglish (Rare)From a surname which was derived from a place name meaning "fishtrap ford" in Old English.
TRAVISmEnglishFrom the English surname
Travis (a variant of
TRAVERS). It was used in America in honour of William Travis (1809-1836), the commander of the Texan forces at the Battle of the Alamo.
TRENTmEnglishFrom a surname which originally denoted someone who lived by the River
Trent in England.
Trent is also a city in Italy, though the etymology is unrelated.
TRENTONmEnglishFrom the name of a New Jersey city established in the 17th century by William Trent. It means "
TRENT's town".
TREVELYANmEnglish (Rare)From a surname which was derived from a Cornish place name meaning "homestead on the hill".
TREVORmWelsh, EnglishFrom a surname which was originally from a place name meaning "big village" from Welsh
tref "village" and
mawr "large".
TRINITYfEnglishFrom the English word
Trinity, given in honour of the Christian belief that God has one essence, but three distinct expressions of being: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. It has only been in use as a given name since the 20th century.
TRISTANmWelsh, English, French, Arthurian RomanceOld French form of the Pictish name
Drustan, a diminutive of
DRUST. The spelling was altered by association with Latin
tristis "sad". Tristan is a character in medieval French tales, probably inspired by older Celtic legends, and ultimately merged into Arthurian legend. According to the story Tristan was sent to Ireland in order to fetch
Isolde, who was to be the bride of King Mark of Cornwall. On the way back, Tristan and Isolde accidentally drink a potion which makes them fall in love. Their tragic story was very popular in the Middle Ages, and the name has occasionally been used since that time.
TROYmEnglishFrom a surname that originally denoted a person from the city of Troyes in France. This was also the name of the ancient city that was besieged by the Greeks in
Homer's 'Iliad'.
TRUMANmEnglishFrom a surname which meant "trusty man" in Middle English. A famous bearer of the surname was American president Harry S. Truman (1884-1972). It was also borne by American writer Truman Capote (1924-1984).
TUCKERmEnglish (Modern)From an occupational surname derived from Old English
tucian meaning "one who fulls cloth".
TWILAfEnglishMeaning unknown. Perhaps based on the English word
twilight, or maybe from a Cajun pronunciation of French
étoile "star". It came into use as an American given name in the late 19th century.
TYEmEnglishFrom a surname meaning "pasture" in Middle English.
TYLERmEnglishFrom an English surname meaning "tiler of roofs". The surname was borne by American president John Tyler (1790-1862).
TYRONEmEnglishFrom the name of a county in Northern Ireland which is derived from Irish Gaelic
Tir Eoghain meaning "land of
EOGHAN". This name was popularized by American actor Tyrone Power (1914-1958), who was named after his great-grandfather, an Irish actor.
TYSONmEnglishFrom an English surname which could be derived from a nickname for a quarrelsome person, from Old French
tison meaning "firebrand". Alternatively, it could be a variant of
DYSON. A famous bearer of the surname was boxer Mike Tyson (1966-).
ULRICmEnglish (Rare)Middle English form of the Old English name
Wulfric meaning "wolf power". When it is used in modern times, it is usually as a variant of
ULRICH.
ULYSSESmRoman Mythology, EnglishLatin form of
ODYSSEUS. It was borne by Ulysses S. Grant (1822-1885), the commander of the Union forces during the American Civil War, who went on to become an American president. Irish author James Joyce used it as the title of his book 'Ulysses' (1920), which loosely parallels
Homer's epic the 'Odyssey'.
UNITYfEnglish (Rare)From the English word
unity, which is ultimately derived from Latin
unitas.
UPTONmEnglish (Rare)From a surname which was derived from a place name meaning "upper town" in Old English. A famous bearer of this name was the American novelist Upton Sinclair (1878-1968).
URSULAfEnglish, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, German, Dutch, Finnish, Late RomanMeans "little bear", derived from a diminutive form of the Latin word
ursa "she-bear". Saint Ursula was a legendary virgin princess of the 4th century who was martyred by the Huns while returning from a pilgrimage. In England the saint was popular during the Middle Ages, and the name came into general use at that time.
VALEfEnglishFrom the English word meaning "wide river valley".
VALENTINE (1)mEnglishFrom the Roman cognomen
Valentinus which was itself from the name
Valens meaning "strong, vigourous, healthy" in Latin. Saint Valentine was a 3rd-century martyr. His feast day was the same as the Roman fertility festival of Lupercalia, which resulted in the association between Valentine's day and love. As an English name, it has been used occasionally since the 12th century.
VANCEmEnglishFrom an English surname which was derived from Old English
fenn meaning "marsh, fen".
VANESSAfEnglish, Italian, Portuguese, German, DutchInvented by author Jonathan Swift for his poem 'Cadenus and Vanessa' (1726). He arrived at it by rearranging the initial syllables of the first name and surname of
Esther Vanhomrigh, his close friend. Vanessa was later used as the name of a genus of butterfly. It was a rare given name until the mid-20th century, at which point it became fairly popular.
VAUGHNmWelsh, EnglishFrom a Welsh surname which was derived from Welsh
bychan meaning "little".
VELDAfEnglishMeaning unknown, possibly a derivative of the Germanic element
wald meaning "power, rule".
VELMAfEnglishProbably a variant of
WILMA, the spelling with an
e perhaps due to the influence of
SELMA. This name has been in use since the 19th century.
VELVETfEnglishFrom the English word for the soft fabric. It became used as a given name after the main character in Enid Bagnold's book 'National Velvet' (1935) and the movie (1944) and television (1960) adaptations.
VENETIAfEnglishOriginally this was probably a Latinized form of
GWYNEDD or
GWYNETH. It also coincides with the name of the city in Italy, called
Venice in English. This name was borne by the celebrated beauty Venetia Stanley (1600-1633). Benjamin Disraeli used it in his novel entitled 'Venetia' (1837).
VERA (1)fRussian, English, German, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Dutch, Portuguese, Italian, Spanish, Hungarian, Romanian, Serbian, Croatian, Macedonian, GeorgianMeans "faith" in Russian, though it is sometimes associated with the Latin word
verus "true". It has been in general use in the English-speaking world since the late 19th century.
VEREmEnglishFrom a Norman surname which was from a French place name, which was itself derived from a Gaulish word meaning "alder".
VERITYfEnglishFrom the English word meaning "verity, truth". This was one of the virtue names adopted by the Puritans in the 17th century.
VERNAfEnglishFeminine form of
VERNON, sometimes associated with the Latin word
vernus "spring". It has been in use since the 19th century.
VERNONmEnglishFrom a Norman surname which was from a French place name, ultimately derived from the Gaulish word
vern meaning "alder".
VERONICAfEnglish, Italian, Romanian, Late RomanLatin alteration of
BERENICE, the spelling influenced by the ecclesiastical Latin phrase
vera icon meaning "true image". This was the name of a legendary saint who wiped
Jesus' face with a towel and then found his image imprinted upon it. Due to popular stories about her, the name was occasionally used in the Christian world in the Middle Ages. It was borne by the 17th-century Italian saint and mystic Veronica Giuliani. As an English name, it was not common until the 19th century, when it was imported from France and Scotland.
VICTORmEnglish, French, Portuguese, Romanian, Dutch, Swedish, Late RomanRoman name meaning "victor, conqueror" in Latin. It was common among early Christians, and was borne by several early saints and three popes. It was rare as an English name during the Middle Ages, but it was revived in the 19th century. A famous bearer was the French writer Victor Hugo (1802-1885), who authored 'The Hunchback of Notre Dame' and 'Les Misérables'.
VINALmEnglish (Rare)From a surname which was derived from a place name meaning "vine hall" in Middle English.
VINCENTmEnglish, French, Dutch, Danish, Swedish, SlovakFrom the Roman name
Vincentius, which was from Latin
vincere "to conquer". This name was popular among early Christians, and it was borne by many saints. As an English name,
Vincent has been in use since the Middle Ages, though it did not become common until the 19th century. Famous bearers include the French priest Saint Vincent de Paul (1581-1660) and the post-impressionist painter Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890).
VIOLETfEnglishFrom the English word
violet for the purple flower, ultimately derived from Latin
viola. It was common in Scotland from the 16th century, and it came into general use as an English given name during the 19th century.
VIRGILmEnglish, RomanianFrom the Roman family name
Vergilius which is of unknown meaning. This name was borne by the 1st-century BC Roman poet Publius Vergilius Maro, commonly called Virgil, who was the writer of the 'Aeneid'. Due to him,
Virgil has been in use as a given name in the English-speaking world since the 19th century.
VIRGINIAfEnglish, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Swedish, Romanian, Ancient RomanFeminine form of the Roman family name
Verginius or
Virginius which is of unknown meaning, but long associated with Latin
virgo "maid, virgin". According to a legend, it was the name of a Roman woman killed by her father so as to save her from the clutches of a crooked official.
... [more] VIVIANm & fEnglish, Swedish, Norwegian, DanishFrom the Latin name
Vivianus which was derived from Latin
vivus "alive". Saint Vivian was a French bishop who provided protection during the Visigoth invasion of the 5th century. It has been occasionally used as an English (masculine) name since the Middle Ages. In modern times it is also used as a feminine name, in which case it is either an Anglicized form of
BÉBINN or a variant of
VIVIEN (2).
WALDOmEnglish, German, Ancient GermanicOriginally a short form of Germanic names containing the element
wald meaning "rule". In the Middle Ages this name became the basis for a surname. Its present use in the English-speaking world is usually in honour of Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882), an American poet and author who wrote on transcendentalism. He was (probably) named after the 12th-century Christian radical Peter Waldo, who was from Lyons in France. Though Waldo and his followers, called the Waldensians, were declared heretics at the time, they were later admired by Protestants.
WALKERmEnglishFrom an English surname which referred to the medieval occupational of a walker, also known as a fuller. Walkers would tread on wet, unprocessed wool in order to clean and thicken it. The word ultimately derives from Old English
wealcan "to walk".
WALLACEmEnglish, ScottishFrom a Scottish and English surname which originally meant "Welsh" or "foreigner" in Norman French. It was first used as given name in honour of Sir William Wallace, a Scottish hero who led the fight against English invasion in the 13th century.
WALLISm & fEnglish (Rare)From a surname which was a variant of
WALLACE. Wallis Simpson (1895-1986) was the divorced woman whom Edward VIII married, which forced him to abdicate the British throne.
WALTERmEnglish, German, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Polish, Italian, Ancient GermanicFrom a Germanic name meaning "ruler of the army", composed of the elements
wald "rule" and
hari "army". The Normans brought it to England, where it replaced the Old English cognate
Wealdhere. A famous bearer of the name was Sir Walter Scott (1771-1832), a Scottish novelist who wrote 'Ivanhoe' and other notable works.
WALTONmEnglishFrom a surname which was originally taken from various Old English place names meaning "stream town", "wood town", or "wall town".
WANDAfPolish, English, German, FrenchPossibly from a Germanic name meaning "a Wend", referring to the Slavic people who inhabited eastern Germany. In Polish legends this was the name of the daughter of King Krak, the legendary founder of Krakow. It was introduced to the English-speaking world by the author Ouida, who used it for the heroine in her novel 'Wanda' (1883).
WARDmEnglishFrom an occupational surname for a watchman, derived from Old English
weard "guard".
WARDELLmEnglishFrom a surname which was derived from a place name meaning "watch hill" in Old English.
WARRENmEnglishFrom an English surname which was derived either from Norman French
warrene meaning "animal enclosure", or else from the town of La Varenne in Normandy. This name was borne by the American president Warren G. Harding (1865-1923).
WARWICKmEnglish (Rare)From a surname which was derived from the name of a town in England, itself from Old English
wer "weir, dam" and
wíc "settlement".
WASHINGTONmEnglishFrom a surname which was originally derived from the name of an English town, itself meaning "settlement belonging to
WASSA's people". The given name is usually given in honour of George Washington (1732-1799), commander of the Continental Army during the American Revolution and the first president of the United States.
WAYLONmEnglishVariant of
WAYLAND. This name was popularized by country music singer Waylon Jennings (1937-2002), who was originally named Wayland.
WAYNEmEnglishFrom an occupational surname meaning "wagon maker", derived from Old English
wægn "wagon". Use of it as a given name can be partly attributed to the popularity of the actor John Wayne (1907-1979). Another famous bearer is Canadian hockey player Wayne Gretzky (1961-), generally considered the greatest player in the history of the sport.
WEBSTERmEnglishFrom an occupational surname meaning "weaver", derived from Old English
webba.
WELDONmEnglishFrom a surname which was derived from a place name meaning "hill near a spring" in Old English.
WENDYfEnglishIn the case of the character from J. M. Barrie's play 'Peter Pan' (1904), it was created from the nickname
fwendy "friend", given to the author by a young friend. However, the name was used prior to the play (rarely), in which case it could be related to the Welsh name
GWENDOLEN and other names beginning with the element
gwen meaning "white, fair, blessed". The name only became common after Barrie's play ran.
WESLEYmEnglishFrom a surname which was derived from a place name meaning "west meadow" in Old English. It has been sometimes given in honour of John Wesley (1703-1791), the founder of Methodism.
WESTONmEnglishFrom a surname which was derived from a place name meaning "west town" in Old English.
WHITAKERmEnglish (Rare)From a surname which was derived from a place name meaning "white field" in Old English.
WHITNEYf & mEnglishFrom a surname which was originally derived from a place name meaning "white island" in Old English. Its popular use as a feminine name was initiated by actress Whitney Blake (1925-2002) in the 1960s, and further boosted in the 1980s by singer Whitney Houston (1963-2012).
WILBURmEnglishFrom an English surname which was originally derived from the nickname
Wildbor meaning "wild boar" in Middle English. This name was borne by Wilbur Wright (1867-1912), one half of the Wright brothers, who together invented the first successful airplane. Wright was named after the Methodist minister Wilbur Fisk (1792-1839).
WILBURNmEnglishFrom a surname which was probably originally derived from an unknown place name. The second element corresponds with Old English
burne "stream".
WILDAfEnglishMeaning unknown, perhaps from a German surname, or perhaps from the English word
wild. It has been in use since the 19th century.
WILEYmEnglishFrom a surname which was derived either from a place name meaning "temple clearing" in Old English or from a nickname meaning "wily, tricky" in Middle English.
WILFORDmEnglishFrom a surname which was originally derived from a place name meaning "willow ford" in Old English.
WILFREDmEnglishMeans "desiring peace" from Old English
wil "will, desire" and
friþ "peace". Saint Wilfrid was a 7th-century Anglo-Saxon bishop. The name was rarely used after the Norman conquest, but it was revived in the 19th century.
WILKIEmEnglishFrom an English surname which was originally derived from a diminutive of the given name
WILLIAM.
WILLmEnglishShort form of
WILLIAM or other names beginning with
Will. A famous bearer is American actor Will Smith (1968-), whose full name is Willard.
WILLARDmEnglishFrom an English surname which was derived from the Germanic given name
WILLIHARD (or the Old English cognate
Wilheard).
WILLIAMmEnglishFrom the Germanic name
Willahelm, which was composed of the elements
wil "will, desire" and
helm "helmet, protection". Saint William of Gellone was an 8th-century cousin of
Charlemagne who became a monk. The name was common among the Normans, and it became extremely popular in England after William the Conqueror was recognized as the first Norman king of England in the 11th century. It was later borne by three other English kings, as well as rulers of Scotland, Sicily (of Norman origin), the Netherlands and Prussia.
... [more] WILLIEm & fEnglishMasculine or feminine diminutive of
WILLIAM. A notable bearer is the retired American baseball player Willie Mays (1931-).
WILLOUGHBYmEnglish (Rare)From a surname which was originally derived from a place name meaning "willow town" in Old English.
WILSONmEnglishFrom an English surname meaning "son of
WILLIAM". The surname was borne by Woodrow Wilson (1856-1924), the American president during World War I.
WILTmEnglishShort form of
WILTON. This name was borne by basketball player Wilt Chamberlain (1936-1999).
WILTONmEnglishFrom a surname which was derived from the names of several English towns. The town names mean variously "willow town", "well town" or "town on the River Wylye" in Old English. The river name is itself of Celtic origin, possibly meaning "tricky".
WINDSORm & fEnglish (Rare)From an English surname which was from a place name meaning "riverbank with a windlass" in Old English (a windlass is a lifting apparatus). This has been the surname of the royal family of the United Kingdom since 1917.
WINFREDmEnglishMeans "friend of peace" from the Old English elements
wine "friend" and
friþ "peace". This was the birth name of the 8th-century missionary Saint Boniface. It became rare after the Norman conquest, though it was revived in the 19th century.
WINNIEfEnglishDiminutive of
WINIFRED. Winnie-the-Pooh, a stuffed bear in the children's books by A. A. Milne, was named after a real bear named
Winnipeg who lived at the London Zoo.
WINSLOWmEnglish (Rare)From a surname which was derived from an Old English place name meaning "hill belonging to
WINE". A famous bearer of this name was American painter Winslow Homer (1836-1910).
WINSTONmEnglishFrom a surname derived from an English place name, which was in turn derived from the Old English given name
WYNNSTAN. A famous bearer was Winston Churchill (1874-1965), the British prime minister during World War II. This name was also borne by the fictional Winston Smith, the protagonist in George Orwell's 1949 novel '1984'.
WINTHROPmEnglishFrom a surname which was originally taken from town names meaning either "
WINE's village" or "
WIGMUND's village" in Old English.
WINTONmEnglishFrom a surname which was derived from a place name meaning "enclosure belonging to
WINE" in Old English.
WOODROWmEnglishFrom a surname which was originally derived from a place name meaning "row of houses by a wood" in Old English. This name was popularized by American president Woodrow Wilson (1856-1924).
WOODYmEnglishEither a diminutive of
WOODROW, or else from a nickname derived from the English word
wood. A famous bearer is film director Woody Allen (1935-).
WRENfEnglish (Modern)From the English word for the small songbird. It is ultimately derived from Old English
wrenna.
WRIGHTmEnglishFrom an occupational surname meaning "craftsman", ultimately from Old English
wyrhta. Famous bearers of the surname were the Wright brothers (Wilbur 1867-1912 and Orville 1871-1948), the inventors of the first successful airplane, and Frank Lloyd Wright (1867-1959), an American architect.
WYATTmEnglishFrom an English surname which was derived from the medieval given name
WYOT. Wyatt Earp (1848-1929) was an American lawman and gunfighter involved in the famous shootout at the OK Corral.
WYSTANmEnglish (Rare)From the Old English name
Wigstan, composed of the elements
wig "battle" and
stan "stone". This was the name of a 9th-century Anglo-Saxon saint. It became rare after the Norman conquest, and in modern times it is chiefly known as the first name of the British poet W. H. Auden (1907-1973).
XANDERmDutch, English (Modern)Short form of
ALEXANDER. It was popularized in the English-speaking world by a character on the television series 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' (1997-2003).
XAVIERmEnglish, French, Portuguese, Catalan, Spanish (Archaic)Derived from the Basque place name
Etxeberria meaning "the new house". This was the surname of the Jesuit priest Saint Francis Xavier (1506-1552) who was borne in a village of this name. He was a missionary to India, Japan, China, and other areas in East Asia, and he is the patron saint of the Orient and missionaries. His surname has since been adopted as a given name in his honour, chiefly among Catholics.
YANCYmEnglishFrom a surname, which was an Americanized form of the Dutch surname
Jansen meaning "
JAN (1)'s son".
YOLANDAfSpanish, EnglishFrom the medieval French name
Yolande, which was probably a form of the name
Violante, which was itself a derivative of Latin
viola "violet". Alternatively it could be of Germanic origin.
... [more] YORKmEnglishFrom a surname, which was derived from York, the name of a city in northern England. The city name was originally
Eburacon, Latinized as
Eboracum, meaning "yew" in Brythonic, but it was altered by association with Old English
Eoforwic, meaning "pig farm".
ZACHARIAHmEnglish, BiblicalVariant of
ZECHARIAH. This spelling is used in the King James Version of the Old Testament to refer to one of the kings of Israel (called Zechariah in other versions).
ZACHARYmEnglish, BiblicalUsual English form of
ZACHARIAS, used in some English versions of the New Testament. This form has been in use since the Middle Ages, though it did not become common until after the Protestant Reformation. It was borne by American military commander and president Zachary Taylor (1784-1850).
ZANE (1)mEnglishFrom an English surname of unknown meaning. It was introduced as a given name by American author Zane Grey (1872-1939). Zane was in fact his middle name - it had been his mother's maiden name.
ZARA (1)fEnglish (Modern)English form of
ZAÏRE. In England it came to public attention when Princess Anne gave it to her daughter in 1981. Use of the name may also be influenced by the trendy Spanish clothing retailer Zara.